Even after a month has passed since the implementation of the Act, the process of forming the University Assembly and appointing officials has not progressed.
What you should know
The Shahid Dashrath Chand Health Sciences University Bill, which is considered to be the proud project of Sudurpaschim Province, was passed by the House of Representatives on 4th June last. On June 4, President Ramchandra Poudel has also approved the Act. However, even after the implementation of the Act, the formation of the University Assembly and the process of appointment of officials have not progressed.
While there are more than two dozen medical colleges and 156 higher health centers operating across the country, there was not one in Far West. In this situation, the University of Health Sciences gave great hope to the people here. But because the operation process does not proceed, more than 53 large structures built on 77 bigha of land with an investment of about 7 billion are now unused.
Although infrastructure with a capacity of 600 beds was built, it was said that a 50-bed hospital would be operated immediately, but that process is also stalled . The establishment struggle committee has drawn the attention of the government saying that this has hindered the operation of the university.
In the absence of a health science university, hundreds of far-westerners are forced to run to India daily for treatment of serious diseases. In this way, the need to spend crores of rupees every year has increased interest at the public level.
Lokraj Pandey, Coordinator of the Struggle Committee for the Establishment of the University, says that the delay in the operation of the hospital has hampered the people's aspirations. "The medical university, which the people of the Far West have been waiting for decades, has now got a legal basis after the law has been passed. But the operation is being delayed . Until MBBS education starts here, research center is not built, we will struggle," he said
He says that if a 300-bed hospital is opened and MBBS teaching is started in the university, it will help not only the Far West but also the country's economy. According to him Dashrath Chand University has a high potential to become a hub for medical tourism along with a large research center in the health sector.
Memorandum to the Chief Minister
The University Establishment Struggle Committee has submitted a special memorandum to the Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah on Tuesday to initiate the appointment of officers and the formation of the University Assembly. The committee's coordinator Pandey, co-coordinator Anand Prasad Bhatt and secretary Dharam Singh Kunwar have submitted the memorandum. Through the
memorandum, it has demanded to determine the number of MBBS seats within this financial year, to operate a hospital with at least 300 beds and to proceed with the process of appointment of officials immediately. At the same time, the provincial government has been drawn to the attention of the Nepal government to take a special initiative with the Nepal government to carry out the organizational management and survey of at least 300-bed hospital in this financial year in the structure made for the construction of a 600-bed hospital for experimental practice.
On understanding the letter, Chief Minister Shah said that he is firm in favor of running the university. Shahid Dashrath Chand University of Health Sciences is not only the pride of the Far West but of the entire country. The provincial government is ready to take the necessary coordination and initiative to operate it quickly, he said.
The Chief Minister promised that the people of Far West will be allowed to delay getting quality healthcare and medical education. The university needs the necessary budget, manpower and equipment to study/teaching quality health services and medical education. In view of this, Chief Minister Shah also assured to bring dynamics in the appointment of officials, budget and structure management through continuous communication with the central government.
If there is a further delay, the warning will start the protest. The committee has also objected to the fact that the government is preparing to open a 50-bed hospital. The committee says that the operation of 50 beds in a hurry is not acceptable when the structures built with billions of investment are destroyed by fire. It has requested everyone to take the initiative to operate a hospital with at least 300 beds in any case. Pandey, coordinator of the
committee, said that the government should appoint a VC registrar within three months of the law. They warned that if there is any delay in the operation of the university under any pretext, they will start a phased movement.
Sangharsh Committee has also sent an attention letter to Industry Minister Damodar Bhandari. After a few days, there is a program to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Chief District Officer and after that there are various programs.
"The Martyr Dashrath Chand University of Health Sciences is the achievement of the movement brought by the people of Far West on the streets. Far western people have seen many dreams in this . It is necessary for the civil society, political parties, people's representatives to work together to achieve this," added Pandey, the coordinator.
